A website for the NFTs states that all sales will include a digital version of the movie’s iconic ‘Royale with Cheese’ scene, as well as a recording of the filmmaker revealing secrets about the project. Tarantino partnered with technology company SCRT Labs to auction seven of the tokens. Miramax, which produced the crime comedy, alleges that the filmmaker also plans to sell NFTs of page scans and digital film props.
One of the filmmaker’s lawyers responded to the cease-and-desist letter by saying he holds reserved rights to print publication of the script. But Miramax is arguing that print publication and NFTs are not the same.
“The proposed sale of a few original script pages or scenes as an NFT is a one-time transaction, which does not constitute publication, and in any event does not fall within the intended meaning of print publication or screenplay publication,” the lawsuit says. “The right to sell NFTs of such excerpts of any version of the screenplay to ‘Pulp Fiction’ is owned and controlled by Miramax.”
In the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Miramax argues that Tarantino essentially signed away rights to all media for the crime comedy in perpetuity when the project was in development in 1993. “Miramax holds the rights needed to develop, market and sell NFTs relating to its deep film library,” the lawsuit also says.
“Tarantino’s conduct has forced Miramax to bring this lawsuit against a valued collaborator in order to enforce, preserve and protect its contractual and intellectual property rights relating to one of Miramax’s most iconic and valuable film properties,” the studio said in its complaint. “Left unchecked, Tarantino’s conduct could mislead others into believing Miramax is involved in his venture. And it could also mislead others into believing they have the rights to pursue similar deals or offerings, when in fact Miramax holds the rights needed to develop, market and sell NFTs relating to its deep film library.”
In its lawsuit, Miramax cited a 1993 agreement with Tarantino to argue that the filmmaker’s reserved rights for ‘Pulp Fiction’ were limited; he holds rights to the movie’s soundtrack album, music publishing, live performance, print publication, interactive media, theatrical and television sequel and remake rights, and television series and spinoff rights.
“Tarantino’s Reserved Rights do not encompass any rights or media that were not known at the time of the Original Rights Agreement,” the lawsuit said. The filmmaker didn’t consult the studio on the creation of the NFTs, which have become popular over the past couple of years, the studio added.